Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
  • B65D1/09—Ampoules
  • B65D1/095—Ampoules made of flexible material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C45/0053—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor combined with a final operation, e.g. shaping
  • B29C45/006—Joining parts moulded in separate cavities
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
  • B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
  • B65D1/0223—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by shape
  • B65D1/023—Neck construction
  • B65D1/0238—Integral frangible closures
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
  • A61J1/00—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes
  • A61J1/05—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes for collecting, storing or administering blood, plasma or medical fluids ; Infusion or perfusion containers
  • A61J1/06—Ampoules or carpules
  • A61J1/067—Flexible ampoules, the contents of which are expelled by squeezing
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C45/0053—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor combined with a final operation, e.g. shaping
  • B29C45/006—Joining parts moulded in separate cavities
  • B29C2045/0065—Joining parts moulded in separate cavities the parts being interconnected before assembling by a breaking or shearing point
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C2045/0086—Runner trees, i.e. several articles connected by a runner
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C45/0081—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor of objects with parts connected by a thin section, e.g. hinge, tear line
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
  • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
  • B29L2031/56—Stoppers or lids for bottles, jars, or the like, e.g. closures
  • B29L2031/565—Stoppers or lids for bottles, jars, or the like, e.g. closures for containers

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a reclosable container and to a corresponding manufacturing method, i.e. , to a container for pharmaceutical, cosmetic or other products, manufactured for example by molding using plastic material fit for thermal bonding and provided with means allowing to reclose the container after use.
• the closure means remain inserted in the neck of the container or coupled thereto until it is opened for the first time for use. Accordingly, the part of the closure means which is in contact with the neck of the container is protected against external contaminants, which cannot deposit on it, and therefore the risk that said contaminants might be accidentally introduced in the container by said closure means when the container is reclosed after first use is minimized.
• 199776 which discloses a single- or multiple-dose container for pharmaceutical products which comprises a body provided with a lower opening, which can be sealed by thermal bonding, and with an upper neck, which is closed in an upward region by closure means in the form of a peduncle formed monolithically with said neck and with a stopper which is provided with plug means for reclosing the neck of the container after it has been opened by tearing the peduncle; the plug means are formed on the part of said stopper which is directed away from the neck of the container.
• the invention solves the above problem by providing a container which comprises a hollow body provided with a dispensing mouth which can be plugged by respective detachable closure means comprising plug means which can be coupled to said mouth, said closure means being monolithic with the container, characterized in that said plug means are located on said closure means on the part of said closure means which is directed towards said mouth.
• the closure means can be provided with tamper-evident means adapted to indicate whether the container has been opened and reclosed.
• the above technical problem is solved by adopting a method for manufacturing containers comprising the formation of a hollow body provided with a dispensing mouth which can be plugged through respective detachable closure means comprising plug means which can be coupled to said mouth, said closure means being formed monolithically with the container, characterized in that during said formation said plug means are provided on said closure means on the side thereof which is directed towards said mouth and in that at the end of said formation said plug means are coupled to said mouth .
• the advantages achieved by the present invention are: a drastic reduction of the risk of contaminating the substance contained in the container when said container is reclosed after use; the possibility to simply and evidently indicate any tampering with the container; simple manufacture; and easy use.
• figure 1 is a partially sectional view of a plurality of containers according to a first embodiment of the present invention, for example a pack of containers in the form of vials, before the insertion of the plug means in the respective mouths of the containers;
• figure 2 is a top view of figure 1;
• figure 3 is a view, similar to figure 1, in which the plug means are inserted in the respective mouths of the containers;
• figure 4 is an enlarged-scale sectional view of a detail of a container of figure 1 before the insertion of the plug means in the mouth of the container;
• figure 5 is an enlarged-scale sectional view of a detail similar to the one of figure 4, but with the plug means inserted in the mouth of the container;
• figure 6 is an enlarged-scale but nonsectional view of a detail, similar to the one of figure 5, for illustrating the operation for opening the container;
• figure 7 is a partially sectional view of
• FIGS 1 to 6 which relate to a first embodiment of the container according to the present invention, illustrate a plurality of containers 1 according to the invention, in the form of a pack of vials made of plastic material fit for thermal bonding.
• the containers 1 have, at an intermediate distance between the respective ends, connecting flaps 3 which are mutually joined along prefracture lines 9.
• the flaps of the end containers 1 of the pack of vials are provided, at their end facing outward with respect to the pack, with expansions 12a which act as a sort of bumper to prevent the overlap of consecutive packs of vials during their handling in machines for filling the vials and for packaging the packs.
• Each container ends with a neck 5 having a dispensing mouth 15 which can be plugged by a closure device constituted by a handle 4, for example shaped like a hollow prism, which is connected to the neck 5 of the container by means of deformable straps 8 which are fixed to said neck along prefracture lines 14.
• Plug means 6 protrude on the side of the handle 4 which is directed towards the mouth 15 and are provided with an annular expansion 6a which is adapted to enter with a tight fit the mouth 15 of the container 1.
• the handles 4 of the adjacent containers are mutually connected along prefracture lines 10.
• the handles 4 of the end containers 1 of the pack of vials are provided, at their end directed towards the outside of the pack, with expansions 11 which act as bumpers like the expansions 12a.
• the containers 1 are produced, for example by injection-molding, monolithically with the closure device.
• the end of the container which lies opposite to the neck 5 is open in order to allow the subsequent filling of the container.
• the plug means 6, at the end of the molding operation, and in any case whilst the straps 8 are in a nondeformed configuration, are furthermore arranged outside the mouth 15 of the container.
• the plug means 6 can be inserted in the mouth 15 of the container 1 during the extraction of the container from the mold (see figures 58 and 59 in this regard), using the core 32 for forming the body 2 of the container.
• the core 32 is provided with a tab for providing, in the plug means 6, a cavity 17 (figure 4) which is open outward; said tab is provided with a groove for forming, in said cavity 17, an annular protrusion 16 which is coupled to said groove.
• the core 32 whilst it is being extracted from the container 1, pulls the plug means 6 along with it, owing to the coupling with the annular protrusion 17, into the mouth 15 of the container 1 until the bottom of the handle 4 abuts against the mouth 15 of the container.
• the core 32 disengages from the annular protrusion 17 and can be extracted fully from the body 2 of the container 1, whilst the plug means 6 remain inserted in the mouth 15.
• the plug means 6 can be forced into the mouth 15, by applying to the handle 4 a thrust which is directed towards the container 2.
• the cavity 17 of the closure element 6 does not have the annular protrusion 16, so that it is possible to extract the molding core 32 without the plug means 6 being pulled along with it.
• the plug means 6 can be inserted in the mouth 15 of the container 1 after drawing the container 1 from the mold, simultaneously with the checking of the presence of any microscopic holes or leaks in the container (see figures 60 and 61 in this regard).
• the open end of the container 1 is inserted with a tight fit on an air injector 35, with a sealing gasket 36 interposed between the bottom of the container 1 and the injector.
• a presser 34 pushes the handle 4 towards the container 1, forcing the plug means 6 inside the mouth 15 of the container; then pressurized air is fed into the container 1 in order to detect any microscopic holes or leaks.
• the container 1 can be filled with the substance which it is meant to contain and finally the open end of the container is joined, for example heat-sealed, along a bonding line 2a.
• the container is thus ready for packaging and for sale to the end user.
• the straps 8 bend (figure 3) without however separating from the neck 5 of the container.
• the straps 8 act as tamper-evident seals, since any breakage thereof indicates that the container has been tampered with.
• FIGs 7 to 12 illustrate a second embodiment of the container according to the invention.
• the plug means 6b are given such dimensions that at the end of the molding operation, and in any case whilst the straps
• the handle 4 is provided with a continuous bottom 19, i.e. , a bottom without detachable parts.
• Figures 13 to 18 illustrate a third embodiment of the container according to the invention.
• the device for closing the container 1 does not have the straps 8.
• the end of the plug means 6c which is directed towards the container is at the level of the mouth 15 and is connected thereto by means of breakable bridges or along a prefracture line.
• the handle 4 of the closure device is provided with a bottom which has a detachable central part 12, as in the first embodiment illustrated in figures 1 to 6.
• the insertion of the plug means 6c in the mouth 15 occurs as described above, preferably by pushing the handle 4.
• FIGs 19 to 24 illustrate a fourth embodiment of the container according to the invention.
• This embodiment is similar to the second embodiment shown in figures 7 to 12, from which it differs only in that the closure device is provided with plug means 6c, whose end directed towards the container, at the end of the molding operation, is connected to the mouth 15 by means of breakable bridges or along a prefracture line.
• Figures 25 to 30 illustrate a fifth embodiment of the container according to the invention, in which the handle of the closure device is constituted by a flap 20 from the lower end of which the straps 8 and the plug means 6, 6b or 6c extend.
• FIG. 31 to 36 illustrate a sixth embodiment of the container according to the invention, which is particularly adapted for the case of containers 1 provided in the form of a pack of vials.
• the plug means 21 of each container 1 are provided, in an upward region, with an expansion 22 which is for example disk-shaped and is transversely larger than the neck 5 of the container.
• the expansion 22 has, on the opposite side with respect to the plug means 21, at least one connecting tab 24 which is fixed to a flap 23 which mutually connects all the connecting tabs 24 of the containers of the pack.
• the plug means 21 are connected to the mouth 15 of the respective container 1 through breakable bridges 18 or along a prefracture line 18a.
• Figures 37 to 42 illustrate a seventh embodiment of the container according to the invention, which is also particularly adapted for the case of containers 1 made in the form of a pack of vials.
• This embodiment differs from the preceding one in that pairs of straps 8 extend from the flap 23 at each container 1 and are fixed to the neck 5 of the respective container 1 along prefracture lines 14.
• the plug means 21b similar to the plug means 6b, furthermore have such dimensions that at the end of the molding operation, and in any case whilst the straps 8 are in a nondeformed configuration, they are partially inserted in the mouth 15 of the container 2.
• the straps 8 act as a tamper-evident seal, since if one attempts to extract the plug means 21b from the respective containers 1 after they have been inserted with a tight fit in the mouth 15 of said containers, the straps 8 separate.
• FIGs 43 to 49 illustrate an eighth embodiment of the container 1 according to the invention. This embodiment is similar to the third one, illustrated in figures 13 to 18, and differs from it only in that the handle of the closure device is provided in the form of a flap 20.
• Figures 50 to 57 illustrate a ninth embodiment of the container according to the invention, which is also particularly adapted for the case of containers 1 provided in the form of a pack of vials.
• the plug means 25 of each container 1 are provided, in an upward region, with an expansion 22, 22a which is for example disk-shaped and is connected, by means of at least one connecting tab 24, to a flap 23 which mutually connects all the plug means of the containers that constitute the pack.
• the plug means 25 are constituted by a cylindrical body which ends, at the tip directed towards the container 1, with a pair of wedge-shaped protrusions 28 separated by a groove 29. Inside the neck 5 of the container there are provided two mutually opposite protrusions 30, shaped like an annular sector, and two conical surface portions 31, which are mutually opposite and offset by 90° with respect to the protrusions 30. The taper of said conical surface portions is directed towards the mouth 15 of the container 1.
• the plug means 25 Upon insertion in the mouth 15 of the container 1, the plug means 25 are arranged so that the protrusions 28 couple, by engagement in an undercut, with the protrusions 30 inside the neck 5: in this manner, the plug means 25 cannot be extracted from the mouth 15 by simply pulling.
• pairs of straps 8 extend from the flap 23 at each container 1 and are fixed to the neck 5 of the respective container 1 along prefracture lines 14.
• pairs of straps 26 fixed to the neck 5 of the respective container 1 along prefracture lines 27 extend from each expansion 22a of the respective plug means.
• the protrusions 28 of the plug means 25 deform, moving mutually closer by means of the presence of the groove 29, and can thus be inserted in the mouth 15 and pushed inside the neck 5 until they couple, by engagement in an undercut, to the respective protrusions 30 (figure 56).
• the plug means 25 In order to extract the plug means 25 from the mouth 15 of the container 1, it is first of all necessary to separate the container from the adjacent one, detaching it from said adjacent container along the prefracture line 9, and to break the tab 24, in order to detach the container from the flap 23.
• the plug means 25 are rotated through 90°, causing the separation of the flaps 8 and 26 and placing the protrusions 28 at the conical surface portions 31.
• the plug means 25 can be extracted by pulling the expansion 22, 22a and by sliding the protrusions 28 along said conical surface until the plug means 25 are extracted from the mouth 15 of the container.
• Figures 62 to 65 illustrate a tenth embodiment of the container according to the invention, wherein the deformable flaps 8 have, in an intermediate position, respective recesses 37.
• the recesses 37 create localized deformation zones allowing the flaps 8 to bend more easily by avoiding detaching from the container neck 5.
• blocking elements 38 are inserted, as for example weld facing material.
• the blocking element 38 inserting operation can be carried out, after the container 1 is drawn out from the forming mold, at the same time with the checking of the presence of possible leaks and microscopical holes in the container (figures 68 and 69).
• the presence of the blocking elements 38 renders the flaps 8 rigid and so acts as a further tamper-evident seal, inasmuch, by preventing any elastic deformation, does not allow the container to be tampered, without blocking the flaps 8.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Polysaccharides And Polysaccharide Derivatives (AREA)
• Making Paper Articles (AREA)
• Cartons (AREA)
• Saccharide Compounds (AREA)
• Cephalosporin Compounds (AREA)
• Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
• Food Preservation Except Freezing, Refrigeration, And Drying (AREA)
• Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)
• Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
• Moulds For Moulding Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
• Cosmetics (AREA)
• Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
• Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)

Priority Applications (9)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=11386114

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (12)

Cited By (6)

Families Citing this family (37)

Citations (10)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 1996
  • 1996-06-27 IT IT96MO000085A patent/IT1287450B1/it active IP Right Grant
• 1997
  • 1997-06-20 US US09/214,024 patent/US6234333B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-06-20 BR BR9709963-5A patent/BR9709963A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-06-20 EP EP97929232A patent/EP0918690B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-06-20 EA EA199900058A patent/EA000549B1/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-06-20 WO PCT/EP1997/003229 patent/WO1997049611A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1997-06-20 AU AU33415/97A patent/AU3341597A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-06-20 AT AT97929232T patent/ATE213479T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-06-20 DE DE69710587T patent/DE69710587T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-06-20 JP JP50230698A patent/JP3942196B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-06-20 ES ES97929232T patent/ES2173456T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-06-20 UA UA99010430A patent/UA57027C2/uk unknown

Patent Citations (10)

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